If we are going to do something about the water agreement with Singapore then please do it. If we are not going to do anything then there is not much point talking about it.

I notice that other than Tun Dr Mahathir few people even take up the subject of the water agreeent with Singapore.  Bersatu folks, other Pakatan folks including the DAP have never made it much of an issue.  

Here is some news about Tun Dr Mahathir complaining about the water agreement with Singapore.

The agreement has been there since before 1962 - that is 57 years ago.

The fact is we have not done anything concrete about changing the water agreement for 57 years. That is more than half a century.  This includes during Tun Dr Mahathir's first 22 years in power.

It is therefore not likely that we will be doing anything concrete to effect any real changes to the water agreement other than just let the agreement run its course until 2061.

Lets not forget that Singapore buys raw water at 3 sen per 1000 gallons BUT they also sell to Johor up to FIVE MILLION GALLONS of treated water at 50 sen per 1000 gallons or 0.05 sen per gallon of treated water.  

Ok what are our options?

1.  Just  tell all the Singaporean technicians at that water treatment plant to go home and lets take over the water treatment plant.  Water supply will not be interrupted. So its not an act of war.  What can Singapore do? Absolutely nothing.  Then lets sit down and renegotiate the 3 sen per 1000 gallons.  If they dont negotiate or dont pay higher,  lets see which water valves look rusty and need 'maintenance'.

But will we do this? I dont think so. This has been status quo for 57 years. 

2.  Just shut off the supply of water. Or reduce the supply. Period. Singapore will say its an act of war.  Possibly.  Again nothing will happen.  But it will destroy relations between Malaysia and Singapore for ever.

But will we do this? I dont think so. This has been the status quo for 57 years.

So nothing is going to happen to undo or to renegotiate that water agreement with Singapore. Its been there since 1962. No one is really much the poorer for it.

And can someone do some honest arithmetic about that FIVE MILLION GALLONS of treated water that Johor gets from Singapore at 0.05 sen per gallon. 

AND DONT FORGET SOMETHING ELSE OK :  In 1962 the Ringgit was at parity with the Singaporean Dollar. One Ringgit was the same as One Dollar.   Now in 2019 the exchange rate is more than RM3.00  to the Singapore Dollar. BEAR THIS IN MIND TOO.

Yet Johor still pays 0.05 Malaysian SEN per gallon of treated water from Singapore. And Johor can draw up to FIVE MILLION GALLONS per day of treated water from Singapore (2% of the raw water volume supplied to Singapore.)

Considering that Johor sells treated water to Johoreans at  "market rates"  this means Johor or the JKR is making a killing from this Singapore treated water at 0.05 SEN per gallon.

Here is more.  Water rates are charged in litres.  NOT IN GALLONS.  One gallon is about 3.8 litres. Somebody is making money too. 

But the bottom line is : are we going to do anything? Can we do anything? 

The answer is NO. 

So what is the point of playing up an issue that cannot be resolved to our liking but it will only aggravate our relations with our neighbour and some of our own people?

Both my wife and I have family in Singapore. Plenty Malaysians also have family in Singapore. A few hundred thousand Malaysians work in Singapore.  We have a very long relationship with Singapore. They drink our water.

Someday, we must work towards a reunion between Malaysia and Singapore. To make that happen, we must achieve parity with Singapore. Or surpass them. In economic development, in social advancement, parity of the Ringgit / Sing Dollar etc. It is not impossible. It is possible in 15 years or less. I really believe in this.

Our advantage is that we are a democracy whereas they are something else. In Malaysia we can get rid of our Prime Ministers (so far FOUR out of SIX of our PM's have been gotten rid of.)  Plus in Malaysia we can change the government. So Malaysia does have its advantages over Singapore. 

So if we are going to roll up our sleeves and fight with Singapore then lets do it.  But if we are just going to play acah-acah,  its better to go home for tea.